Cook County Higher Education

10/13/2026

CCHE Tuition Scholarship Applications are due by 5pm on Monday, Nov 2, 2026!
Up to $3,000 per semester
For trades training, college, certificates, licensure, etc.
Must be living in Cook County, MN & doing distance learning
Apply and learn more: mycche.org/scholarships

As always, if you have questions contact Lenna at: [email protected]
218-831-3305
Make an appointment: https://mycche.org/make-appointment/

10/12/2026

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, take a moment to learn and reflect through CCHE’s free anytime learning opportunities:
* The Seed Keeper: Author Talk with Diane Wilson - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/the-seed-keeper-author-talk-with-diane-wilson/
* Native Love Jams and The Good Berry Cookbook Author Talk with Tashia Hart - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/native-love-jams-and-the-good-berry-cookbook-author-talk-with-tashia-hart/
* Author Talk with Thomas Peacock of The Wolf’s Trail: An Ojibwe Story, Told by Wolves - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/author-talk-with-thomas-peacock/
* Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/walking-the-old-road-a-peoples-history-of-chippewa-city-and-the-grand-marais-anishinaabe/
* Healing Our Communities: An Indigenous Perspective - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/healing-our-communities-an-indigenous-perspective/
* Language Connections in the Firekeeper’s Daughter - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/family-language-connections-in-the-firekeepers-daughter/
* We Are All Treaty People - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/we-are-all-treaty-people/
and Q&A Follow-up - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/we-are-treaty-people-qa-follow-up/
* Understanding the Impact of Historical Trauma - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/understanding-the-impact-of-historical-trauma/
* Beginning Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) – Session 1 - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/beginning-anishinaabemowin-ojibwe-session-1/
* Learning for All: Federal Indian Law Foundations - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/learning-for-all-federal-indian-law-foundations/
* Boarding School Excavations and the Journey towards Truth and Justice - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/everychildmatters-boarding-school-excavations-and-the-journey-towards-truth-and-justice/
* Virtual Pre-Launch of Seven Aunts - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/virtual-pre-launch-of-staci-drouillard-newest-book-seven-aunts/
* Author Talk with Elin Anna Labba of The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/author-talk-with-elin-anna-labba-of-the-rocks-will-echo-our-sorrow/
* Now & Then Presentation & Discussion of Walking the Old Road - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/now-then-presentation-discussion-of-walking-the-old-road/
* Learning for All: Historical Turning Points - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/learning-for-all-historical-turning-points/
* Blood Quantum - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/blood-quantum/
* Building a better future: a look at Native History and how inequality led to racism – Hosted by The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa - Link: https://mycche.org/aiovg_videos/building-a-better-future-a-look-at-native-history-and-how-inequality-led-to-racism-hosted-by-the-grand-portage-band-of-lake-superior-chippewa/

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our partners and presenters who have so generously shared their knowledge, lived experiences, stories, and expertise with our community. Your willingness to share, teach, and create opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection makes these programs possible. We are deeply grateful for the time, energy, thoughtfulness, and care you bring to these conversations and learning experiences.

10/12/2026

10/08/2026

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month - join the Violence Prevention Center for a Ribbon Cutting & Open House in their renovated space on Tuesday, October 13th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Visit the new space and enjoy free ice cream generously donated by Superior Creamery!

Violence Prevention Center: 21 W. 2nd St., Grand Marais, MN, 55604

https://www.boreal.org/events/348361/ribbon-cutting-open-house-at-the-violence-prevention-center-

10/06/2026

The FAFSA is open for the 2027-28 school year! Get it done now and take it off your plate: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

As always, if you have questions contact Lenna at: [email protected]
218-831-3305
Make an appointment: https://mycche.org/make-appointment/

10/05/2026

10/01/2026

Check out the Ojibwe Phrase of the Week video series from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_mAui8oUQ&list=PLSHfiucy-SlXUqf2_ZrehTYMy0X1OBP9J

09/30/2026

Every Child Matters

09/30/2026

A CCLEP Tradition Continues Through CCHE: Solar & Sustainable Home Tour

Cook County Higher Education (CCHE) will host the Cook County Solar & Sustainable Home Tour on Saturday, October 24, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. The tour continues community education previously offered by the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP), which dissolved earlier this year after 18 years of work in Cook County.

The tour will provide community members an opportunity to visit four Cook County homes and see firsthand how local homeowners have approached solar energy, sustainable building, energy efficiency, and creating comfortable homes that work in our northern climate.

Guided by Kjell Olsen and Jennifer Victor-Larsen of Northwoods Sustainable & Resilient Housing Project, the tour will feature passive solar and solar panels, owner-built and contractor-built homes, super-insulated construction, straw bale walls, plaster wall finishes, geothermal systems, in-floor heating, mini splits, and more.

More than seeing different technologies and building approaches, the tour is an opportunity to learn from neighbors. Homeowners will share the choices they made, what worked, what was challenging, what they might do differently, what they still hope to do, and what they have learned along the way.

A special thank you to the homeowners who are welcoming us for this year’s tour and generously sharing their spaces, experiences, and lessons learned with the community.

Founded in 2008, CCLEP spent 18 years providing education around renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable building, and related topics. When the organization dissolved in January 2026, its assets and activities were consolidated with CCHE. Having partnered with CCLEP on many events, CCHE is carrying forward efforts such as the winter Builders, Contractors CEU & Homeowners Workshop, sustainable housing programs, and the fall Solar & Sustainable Home Tour.

As CCHE gets ready to carry on this fall tradition, it is also an opportunity to recognize and deeply thank CCLEP’s past leaders and board members, especially Chris O’Brien, who served as both Board President and Interim Executive Director, along with the community members and partners who shared their knowledge, passion, ideas, and dedication to local energy and sustainability efforts. CCHE hopes to be a thoughtful steward of that work.

Cook County Higher Education is a local nonprofit connecting people of all ages with education, training, resources, and learning opportunities close to home. Through partnerships with local organizations, instructors, employers, colleges, and community members, CCHE works to bring programs and resources to Cook County that respond to local interests and needs.

As CCHE looks ahead, we ask: What would you like to learn more about? Community members are encouraged to reach out with topics, questions, speakers, workshops, or other ideas they would like to see offered locally.

Register for the Solar & Sustainable Home Tour or learn more about CCHE at www.mycche.org..